JW's Not Members anymore but Individuals

by pistolpete 24 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

  • FatFreek 2005
    FatFreek 2005

    No longer members? Here's a list of WT quotations (what they said) regarding membership.

    *** w58 2/1 p. 83 par. 9 Jehovah Brings the Increase ***

    9 There are persons who apparently hope for our conformity to the world and who try to see in our increase and prosperity signs of such conformity. Occasionally such ideas frequently spoken find published expression. Of interest is the following example, which, while reviewing modern events after a fashion, expresses a wish or hope for conformity on our part, as follows: “Jehovah’s Witnesses is the fastest-growing religious movement in the world. In fifteen years it has tripled its membership. . . . One of my earliest impressions of the group came in the days of World War II when, on a city street, I saw a cleric jostle a Watchtower Witness and exclaim, ‘Damn you, conscientious objector!’

    *** w13 8/15 p. 8 Questions From Readers ***

    Whether a disfellowshipped person sits next to a relative or next to any other member of the congregation should not be a cause for concern as long as he behaves properly.

    *** w12 4/15 p. 12 par. 16 Betrayal—An Ominous Sign of the Times! ***

    There are members of the congregation who committed serious sins and who were reproved “with severity, that they may be healthy in the faith.” (Titus 1:13) For some, their conduct has required that they be disfellowshipped. For “those who have been trained by it,” the discipline has helped them to become spiritually restored.

    *** w11 2/15 p. 32 par. 19 Do You Hate Lawlessness? ***

    One individual who was disfellowshipped and was later reinstated wrote: “I am happy that Jehovah loves his people enough to see that his organization is kept clean. What may seem harsh to outsiders is both necessary and really a loving thing to do.” Do you think that this person would have been helped to come to such a conclusion had members of the congregation, including her family, maintained regular contact with her while she was disfellowshipped? Our supporting the Scriptural arrangement of disfellowshipping gives evidence that we love righteousness and recognize Jehovah’s right to set standards of conduct.

    *** w01 10/1 p. 17 par. 16 How Can You Help a “Prodigal” Child? ***

    If a baptized youth is disfellowshipped, the congregation members are expected “to quit mixing in company with” him. (1 Corinthians 5:11; 2 John 10, 11) This may eventually help him to ‘come to his senses’ and return to God’s protective fold. (Luke 15:17) Whether he comes back or not, however, members of the congregation can encourage the family of the disfellowshipped youth. We can all look for opportunities to show “fellow feeling” and to be “tenderly compassionate” toward them.

    *** km 11/99 p. 4 par. 12 Use of the Internet—Be Alert to the Dangers! ***

    The Christian congregation is the theocratic means through which we are fed spiritually by “the faithful and discreet slave.” (Matt. 24:45-47) Within God’s organization, we find direction and protection to keep us separate from the world as well as motivation to keep busy in the work of the Lord. (1 Cor. 15:58) The psalmist indicated that he experienced joy and a feeling of security among God’s congregated people. (Ps. 27:4, 5; 55:14; 122:1) The congregation also provides spiritual support and assistance for those associated with it. Therein, you can find a group of loving, concerned, and caring friends—people you personally know who are ready and willing to help and comfort others in times of distress. (2 Cor. 7:5-7) Congregation members are protected by the Scriptural provision for disfellowshipping those who sin unrepentantly or who promote apostate thinking.

  • smiddy3
    smiddy3

    Has anything more frequent been published by the Watchtower publications of Jehovah`s Witnesses that diminishes the rank and file as being a Jehovah`s Witness ? and a member of the Jehovah`s Witness religion ?

    Or are the rank and file now denigrated to be only friends / volunteers of the Governing Body who are the only true Jehovah`s Witnesses recognised by God .?

    It has been stated officially that the rank and file are not members of the Jehovah`s Witness religion .

    So where does that leave them ? Who are they ? What are they to be called ?

    If true ,do the rank and file even know about this ? How would they react ?

  • Jeffro
    Jeffro

    References to congregation "members" were also removed from the August 2020 revision of Pure Worship, those being the only changes made in that revision.

  • DesirousOfChange
    DesirousOfChange

    You'll still be a "member" if they want to hold a JC and DF you.

    You will NOT be a "member" if you break the law while doing their proselytizing.

  • Anony Mous
    Anony Mous

    That's pretty much it, whenever some child molester comes in the news, they can say "but he wasn't a MEMBER", he was just an individual attending our church.

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